Phew. Both of my brothers have now graduated from their respective schools. I've spent two weekends in a row eating and drinking way more than is necessary, staying up later than usual, and sleeping in hotels (not ideal for someone who loves sleep as much as I do!), but I feel super grateful to have been a part of celebrating their successes and to have been able to watch both them walk across the stage. SO proud. 

A few highlights from this past weekend? A family game of beer pong (I played with water and sipped my wine as I played, while my grandmother cheered from the sidelines), eating some amazing meals in Ann Arbor, seeing the gorgeous campus (looks like a movie!) and adorable downtown area, visiting with my loved ones = lots of laughs, and watching my mom, the most uncoordinated person in the world, play cornhole. Also, although it was 38 degrees yesterday--in May!!!!--we were still able to spend some time outside this weekend, which was really nice.

I'm still en route back to VA today, so in the meantime, I thought I'd share some fun pics from the weekend...

Enjoy!

As you can tell, it was a mix of high-brow, low-brow, and everything in-between :)

And can you believe that my 82-year-old grandmother was a part of all of this? She is SUCH a trooper. 

Have a great day!

PS. I need some yoga, stat. Yikes.

Now that we're back to life, back to reality (remember that song?), I thought I'd share a few final thoughts about our fantabulous trip to San Diego last week. As promised, all of my recommendations from the trip are below, but first, the 10 Things I learned in Southern California (in no particular order):

1.  At restaurants in SoCal, they have no problem making substitutions, additions, or sutractions. Everything is "totally fine, man" and there's nothing to worry about if you don't like mushrooms, want extra salsa, or want to add an extra scone to your breakfast (not that I did this...). 

2.  Cacti = totally normal plant to have covering your front yard as a part of your landscaping. Weird. 

3.  When every day is perfect, you just can't get that mad at people. It's really, really hard to be in a bad mood when it's 73 degrees outside, sunny, and slightly breezy. We didn't experience any road rage, shoves or bumps on the streets, or people cutting in line at the grocery store. Again, weird. 

4.  Workout clothes are a thing of the past in SoCal. You can wear whatever you want when working out--skirt, swimsuit, going-out top, hair down, stylish sunglasses, bare feet, and at the nude beach, no pants but a hat, tennis shoes, and a backpack. Exercise seems to be a way of life there, and it doesn't really matter what you wear to do it. 

5.  Real margaritas are actually really good. Real margaritas = no sweet and sour, but fresh-squeezed lemons and lime, instead. YUM.

6.  Convertibles aren't just for looks. And all music sounds better in a convertible. And everyone looks cooler and more attractive (and feels cooler and more attractive) in a convertible. Obviously, I enjoyed our convertible for the week ;)

7.  If you're a modest person, nude beaches are really kind of awkward. Especially if the person you're at the nude beach with decides to go nude, and you don't...(hint, hint). 

8.  Harbor seals are the cutest animals in the world. As Ben said, "I wish I could just cuddle up and spoon one of them when I go to sleep at night." Yep, that cute. If you haven't already seen my video of one scooting along on the sand, check it out. 

9.  Going without a to-do list for an entire week is LIFE-CHANGING. Seriously. Everyone should go without a to-do list for at least 1 week per year. 

10.  If I could get 11 hours of sleep every night and wake up without an alarm clock every morning, I'd be a better person. But then again, wouldn't we all? 

Now for all the deets about where we stayed, dined, and went while in San Diego (we stayed in La Jolla for the week). I highly recommend all businesses/locations listed below!

STAY: 

• Redwood Hollow Guest Cottages in La Jolla, CA: As you've probably seen from my pics, these little beach cabins were amazing. Super affordable (we were shocked!), extremely comfy and homey, rustic (but had everything we would need), 1 block from the beach and a 10-min walk to all of the shops and restaurants in La Jolla, this place was perfect. They have all different sized cabins and I think it would be the perfect place to go with a group, as well (everyone could rent separate little cottages and share the common areas = perfect!). 

VISIT:

• Torrey Pines State Reserve: Just a short drive from where we stayed, this is where most of my gorgeous hiking pics came from. Amazing vistas, trails, and beaches, it makes for a perfect active day outside. Loved it. 
• Coronado Island: We took the ferry, rented bikes, and explored the island. We had lunch on the deck at the Hotel del Coronado (historical and beautiful) and then rode back. One of our favorite parts of the trip.
• Sail San Diego: We took a 3-hour afternoon sail and it was really fun. 6 people total on the boat, unlimited food and drinks (including wine and beer!), a great way to see San Diego. 
• Black's Beach: Yes, this is where we went to the nude beach, but you don't have to go there (we just did it because we'd never been to one!)--there's also a regular beach to the left. This is a very hidden, very secluded local beach that requires a tough hike down, but is totally worth it. A very fun adventure that leads to a gorgeous view and gorgeous beaches. 

EAT: Although we planned on trying a number of different recommended restaurants all over San Diego, we ended up eating most of our meals in La Jolla, as we liked being able to take a casual stroll down to our dinner spots. Every meal we had was amazing, but our 3 favorite places are below (must-haves if you visit La Jolla):

• Georges at the Cove: Where we dined at the rooftop restaurant and bar, overlooking the coastline (and where we had the fabulous Margaritas). Perfect. 
• The Cottage La Jolla: We went here twice for brunch, and probably would have gone every day if we'd found it sooner! Delicious homemade granola, world famous scones, and wonderful everything else, as well. Packed, but worth the wait. 
• Don Carlos Taco Shop: Authentic mexican tacos. Cheap and really tasty. 

I hope these recommendations are helpful! If you want more info about any part of our trip, let me know. 

Thanks for being a part of my life journey and sharing these experiences with me :)

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

What. A. Weekend. Even though I didn't compete in the SuperFit Games, I was so exhausted when we got home last night that I honestly felt like I did. Kind of lame, I know, but honestly, I was just extremely worn out from all of the yelling/cheering, fingernail-biting, early wake-up calls, rushing around from event-to-event to see everyone, and loud music/intense energy/adrenaline pulsing throughout the building the entire weekend. 

If you've never been to a CrossFit competition, I have to tell you that there's really nothing like it. It's wild to watch so many people push to (or even past) their physical and mental limits time and time again over the course of a weekend. Every year the weights get heavier, the competitors get stronger, and my yelling gets louder--but there's always a similar, basic love of the "sport," the competition, the thrill, connecting everyone who travels to Charlottesville for the SuperFit Games. 

So anywho, instead of waxing on about the competition for hours, this year I thought I'd just share some of my favorite snapshots from the weekend. Hopefully, these images capture a bit of the spirit of the trip...

Whew. Now back to reality, right? 

Oh, and if you were wondering, all of the guys that we were cheering for did FABULOUS job. Ben set a PR in almost every event, and I was very, very proud of him ;) 

I hope your weekend was also full of excitement, adventure, and whatever is is that you're passionate about...

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

Well, we finally decorated our little Christmas tree over the weekend, and it was everything that I thought it would be and more. There is just something about putting up a few decorations that changes everything for me--wouldn't you agree? Cue the Christmas music, put on your holiday headband (everyone has one of these, right?), get out some cookies + milk, and voila, you're in the holiday mood! If you weren't sure already, yes, I'm a total Christmas girl. I love this holiday, and although I hate all of the shopping and fighting the crowds at Target only to find that they're completely out of twinkle lights, hardly anything can ruin it for me. It's just a special time of year that makes me thankful for so many things in my life.

So, obviously, decorating our little apartment and mini-tree over the weekend was really special. Besides the fact that it's our first Christmas as a married couple, Christmas is also a time of year that my late stepmom LOVED, and because she gave me many of the ornaments on our tree, and hand-painted the storage box for my ornaments, I felt very close to her when pulling out all of the holiday boxes (see below!)...

Although we're kind of sad that we can't fit a big tree in our apartment, I do have to say that it's a whole lot easier to have a baby tree, and honestly, look how cute it is! We like to act like it's a little pet or part of our family, but I think that's just because we're totally ready for a pet but can't have one in our building. Maybe next year we'll grow up a little and have our first tall tree AND a dog...

Until then, happy holidays from the entire family! Ben, Mary Catherine, the mini-tree, the sock monkey ornament, and the wreath ;)

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

If I didn't already realize it, this past weekend really hit home the notion that I'm back from all of my travels and wedding events, and that normal life has resumed. I spent much of it catching up on work, catching up on sleep/trying to shake my latest sinus infection, and doing a couple of DC activities with friends--and although it was quite a blur, it felt nice to be back to a somewhat typical routine/existence. 

On Saturday, we went on a White House Garden Tour, courtesy of the same friend who took us on our first White House tour a couple of months ago.  I was in love with Michelle's vegetable garden (pic above), but also thought it was really cool to be standing on the lawn where all of the helicopters land and all of the foreign dignitaires enter the premises. Every once in a while it's really wonderful to do something totally DC-ish (or insert your city name here), as it reminds you of some of the special aspects of where you live and allows you to learn something new about your city...

On Friday evening, we had some friends over to our apartment for dinner and pumpkin carving. Believe it or not, they were our first dinner guests EVER in this apartment (and it was so fun! We must do this more often!). Ben cooked while I "entertained" (aka watched videos from our wedding on our friend's computer--they took a bunch and it was so fun to see them!), and then after dinner, we got out the pumpkin supplies. We'd decided previously that we could only create CrossFit-themed pumpkins (these are dear friends from CrossFit), so our carvings took an interesting turn once we got started...

After we were done with our first set of pumpkins I said, "now lets make some yoga-themed pumpkins!!" but everyone seemed to be done carving for the night :(  So, we moved on to an even more exciting activity, harvesting and toasting the pumpkin seeds. First we separated the seeds from the rest of the innards, then we washed them, coated them in olive oil, spread them out on a cookie sheet, and cooked them for about 20 minutes at 300 degrees. 

Delicious! If you haven't already done something pumpkin-related this month, I highly recommend it, as it really does put you in a fall sort of mood. If you're not into carving pumpkins, you could bake a pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread/muffins, or pumpkin pancakes, you could go to a pumpkin farm to pick out a pumpkin, or to a Corn Maze (which I hear is really fun!?), OR, you could paint some pumpkins, which can also be really pretty. See? So many ways to enjoy a pumpkin this month :)

I hope your weekend was also full of special moments. Here's to an equally-enjoyable week for us all!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

After my longest blogging hiatus to date (my longest before this was maybe 2 or 3 days?), I'm back! Ten days later and it feels like it has been an eternity--I really missed writing and sharing every day, as this has become a big part of my life. But, as you all know, I was very busy getting ready to get married, getting married, and then going on a "minimoon," a term that I think perfectly describes our 4-day trip to the mountains of North GA right after our nuptials + celebration ;) 

It's hard to know where to begin or how to capture the past 10 days in words or images, but I've decided that the best way that I know how to summarize everything that happened, how it felt, and what it looked like, is, of course, through a list (are you surprised?). So, today's post is a list of my "Top 10 Favorite Moments" from the past 10 days, in no particular order. I hope that this gives you a little peek into our wedding, but know that there is still  much more to come on this front, as you know that I'll be sharing the professional photographer's pics as soon as I have them ;) Oh, and get ready--this may be the longest post I've ever written...

My Top 10 Favorite* Moments (From the Past 10 Days)
*In no particular order!

1. Standing at the altar, marrying the love of my life. It was magical. It literally felt like a fairytale (cue Taylor Swift, "today was a fairytale..."), or a dream, and looking back, the entire thing felt surreal yet completely real at the same time. Does that make any sense? Sure, things didn't go perfectly--the PA system kept going in and out and my dad "misplaced" his reading (he was sitting on it!)--but it felt completely perfect to me, nonetheless. As I said my vows, I was overwhelmed with love for Ben and for everyone who was there to celebrate with us. It was such a powerful moment but I felt completely sure of every part of it. Magical. 

2. Having (almost) everyone I love in one place, at one time. Many people warned me about how amazing this would be, but I still wasn't prepared for how overwhelmingly wonderful and emotional it is to have all of your friends and family--from all different times and places in your life--in one room. When we think about our wedding before the the big event, we focus so much on the details and the parts that involve the couple, but we often seem to forget about all of the amazing time we will get to spend with friends and family members that we don't see very often. Some of my favorite memories from the wedding weekend don't even involve Ben (don't worry, most of them do, haha!), and I think that's a really special part of such a special event.

3. All of the speeches. And let me tell you, our wedding was very speech-heavy. I mean, very. But, we absolutely LOVE speeches, and each and every one was extremely special in it's own way. We had 4 speeches at the rehearsal, and then Ben and I took turns saying something about each member or our bridal party (read: total sobfest) while we handed out their gifts. We also had 4 at the wedding, including a 20-minute speech by my Dad (I know! But don't worry, it was amazing and I don't think I'm the only one who thought it was worth every minute...). The speeches brought many, many tears to my eyes, but also brought a lot of laughter and depth to the festivities. 

4. Riding the "club cars" (10-person golf carts) up the hill from the ceremony site to the reception site with the entire bridal party. We had two cars that were completely full, and the drivers kind of raced so that we were all yelling back and forth at one another, with our hair blowing in the wind. For some reason, this is one of my favorite moments from the wedding--it just felt so celebratory and happy to me. Oh, and everyone was wearing shutter shades, which I bought for our grand entrance/introductions, so that was fun ;) 

I don't have any pics of this moment, but do have one of some people wearing the shutter shades, below. They were fabulous.

5. Doing yoga the morning of the wedding. One of my bridesmaids and closest friends is also a yoga teacher, so she taught an amazing love-focused class on Saturday morning at the hotel. It was just what I needed to set the stage for the rest of the day, and I believe that this class played a VERY big part in my ability to relax, breathe, and enjoy the moment on the day of the wedding. Amazingly enough, I didn't have any big freak-outs on the day of, but don't think that doesn't mean that things didn't go wrong. Actually, at 10am our DJ cancelled on us via a text message (I got it while getting my hair done). Can you believe it!? But, he found a replacement, I got a discount after speaking my mind once I got him on the phone (yay!), and I let my wedding planners take it from there. Thank you, yoga, for keeping me sane during that little moment. 

6. Getting ready with my bridesmaids + mom. This was so much fun! I LOVED getting pampered, spending time with people who are SO special to me, and seeing how everyone's hair and makeup turned out. These ladies are another reason that I was able to stay so calm throughout the day--they kept me laughing and handled a ton of the little issues/details. I am filled with gratitude and love for them. 

7. Rapping "Shoop" by Salt n' Pepa on the mic at the reception. The entire song. Oh yes I did. And no, it was not planned. Can you believe it? But what's a girl to do when her favorite song comes on and her friends hand her the mic? I had to. It was fabulous. I hear that one of my friends got it on video, but I'm not sure that I'm ready to see it yet...I just keep telling myself that if you're wearing a wedding dress and it's your wedding, you couldn't possibly look that stupid, right? Right???  Either way, it was so much fun ;)

8. Magical memories on the dance floor. This includes: our first dance, the father-daughter dance, doing the Limbo under Ben's grandmother's scarf--which was attached to her neck (!), watching my brothers & friends dance in the middle of the "circle" on the dance floor, seeing my Maid of Honor's parents dance with the tambourine that I gifted her with (as a joke, to relive a past memory), watching my Dad go completely crazy to a few rock songs, seeing my grandmother and great aunt make their way onto the dance floor, and watching all of the adorable couples (of all ages) slow dance together. So much happiness on that floor. 

9. Having absolutely NOTHING to do on our "minimoon." Literally, we went to bed around 9:30/10 each night, woke up whenever we wanted to (usually around 9:30/10), and then took our sweet time making coffee & tea, sitting on the porch, and watching for deer in the field in front of the house. When we finally got some energy, we would head out for the day for an activity or two (apple-picking, visiting a farm where we bought fresh eggs, milk, etc., going on a hike), and then head home for a nap around 4. We'd wake up, make dinner, sit on the porch after dinner with a glass of hot cider, and then do it all again. It  was perfect. 

10. Our "First Look." For those who don't know, this is when the Bride & Groom have a staged first meeting before the ceremony. It was basically created by photographers to allow for some of the pictures to be taken before the ceremony (and thus, give the wedding party a chance to enjoy the cocktail hour!), and we decided to do one for a number of reasons, primarily because Ben wanted to. Although I wasn't originally a fan of the idea, I actually ended up really loving the fact that we did this. What I loved was that it was just a quiet moment that Ben and I were able to share before all of the excitement ensued. It was really special to see him before the ceremony, and I think it allowed me to be a lot more present during the ceremony, since I wasn't wondering what was going on in his head or dying to talk to him. Again, I don't have any pics from this time yet, so am just including a few more random ones below...

Other amazing moments? The Rehearsal Dinner, enjoying all of the delicious food, working with my mom and Maid of Honor to put all of the last details together, seeing all of my hard work come to life, sitting at the "Sweetheart Table" with Ben to enjoy our dinner, and cutting the cake (for some reason I really loved this moment--one I wasn't that excited about!)...

I still cannot believe that the wedding has already come and gone, but I really do have to say that the memories will last a lifetime (and now I know why there are so many cliched sayings when it comes to weddings!). 

Thank you all for your well wishes, congrats, and sweet messages as the big day came and went. It meant the world to me :)

Now back to life, right?

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

Hot tea. Boots. Apples. Jeans. Snuggles by the fire. Scarves. Rosy cheeks. 
Oversized sweaters and hoodies. Pumpkin pie. Tall socks. Cool, crisp air. 

I simply adore the fall. These are just a few of the reasons, but I could go on and on for days. It's one of my favorite times of year (if not my very favorite!?), and  although yes, it marks the beginning of one of the busiest seasons ever, there is just something really special about feeling that little bite in the air again after months of sweltering heat. 

Yesterday was one of the first days that made me feel like fall is really on it's way--with the Equinox on Saturday and the dropping temperatures overnight--I began to feel that familiar energy bubbling in my chest. As soon as I walked outside into the crisp, breezy air, a prefect reminder that the seasons are changing, I began thinking about what I want from autumn this year. What do I want to tackle, cultivate, or invite into my life this season? I thought about this question quite a bit yesterday, and after doing so, compiled a list of my Top 10 Fall Dreams. 

What's on your fall wish list? How can you make time for those things that are important to you this autumn? 
Here's what I hope to focus on:

1. Get married. In just 12 days. Crazy. 
2. Spend a week away with Ben, completely unplugged. This means no blogging or emails for me, and no CrossFit videos or TV for him. Hopefully, this will happen on our "honeymoon" (we're calling it that, even though it's not our official honeymoon)...
3. Go apple picking. Nothing says fall like freshly-picked apples!
4. Participate in another art fair, show, or festival of some sort. In other words, put more time and energy into getting my art out there!
5. Simplify. Cut a few things out of my weekly schedule (this may be the hardest one on the list!). After simplifying, say "no" more.
6. Bake muffins--more than once.
7. Begin to formulate the next stage of my Yoga & Body Image studies--create a workshop, retreat, or series around this topic.
8. Go on a long hike in the woods.
9. Enjoy a cup of hot cider while outside on a cold day. Preferably at some sort of outdoor game or event, since I never go to games or outdoor events anymore, and really enjoy them. 
10. Spend more time with friends. Make more time to do nothing with loved ones. More people time = less computer/work time. 


It feels so nice to look at this list and know that most of the items on it are very attainable, as long as I make a little time and make them a priority. So now it's your turn to mull over this topic:

What can you do to find balance this fall? How can you keep yourself grounded during the frenzy that is waiting right around every corner? What items show up on your fall wish list?

I hope that every single one of your fall dreams comes true. 

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

No shoes, no shirt, no problems...blues, what blues? Hey I forgot 'em....
-The wise and forever young Kenny Chesney

I've said it many times before and I'll say it again--there's just nothing like getting away for a couple of days to soak up the sun, laugh, and relax with girlfriends. Over the past weekend I had an absolute blast celebrating my dear friend Erica's impending marriage, meeting a bunch of her lifelong friends (wonderful people!), sneaking in a CrossFit workout at a new "box," and eating bucket-loads of DELICIOUS homemade meals while at the beach. What a weekend! Since I love sharing my adventures with you, I've posted a few of my favorite pics below :)

Scroll down to view a sneak peek of the festivities...

We indulged in a bunch of amazing food over the weekend.  Some of the treats that "we" made (and by we, I mean the more domestically-inclined members of the group, which does not include yours truly...) were homemade pies, homemade pasta, & homemade meringues. Not pictured below but also in my belly? Bruschetta, waffles (made from scratch!), hummus and veggies, LOTS of peanut m&ms, and vino. YUM. 

We also made time for a quick but intense workout at CrossFit Lewes, which made us feel a lot better about indulging in so many treats later on in the weekend...

We spent time painting wine glasses, playing bachelorette party games (always a good time!), and, of course, watching the Olympics (it's so hard to stop once you start)...

And of course, our night out was filled with FLARE (one of my favorite parts of celebrating anything and everything!), dancing, live music, and singing at the top of our lungs...

But, we were sure to keep our minds sharp by working on a really challenging puzzle. We worked on it ALL 3 days, but sadly, didn't get it finished by the time we had to leave (a quote from the bachelorette, as we were packing up the cars and cleaning up the house: "Does anyone not have anything to do? If so, work on the puzzle!"). It was a REALLY hard puzzle:

 Oh, and if you haven't done a puzzle in years (I hadn't!), I definitely recommend it. There's something really wonderful about working on a task like this--it's very meditative and relaxing, while still being mentally challenging and pretty fun. Do you think I'm the dorkiest person ever now? I thought so! ;)

...And these are the differences between bachelorette parties right after college, and bachelorette parties in your late twenties: homemade food, puzzles, workouts, crafts, and just one special night out. I love it. 

I hope your weekend was also restful, exciting, and full of laughter!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

Everyone has their list of non-negotiables in life--meaning, those things that you just need in order to make it through the week without feeling completely frazzled (or in my case, without having a mini-breakdown that ends in tears). Sure, we could survive without these things, and they're not mandatory for survival, but in order to be our happiest, most energized selves, we need these things in order to function optimally. They aren't guilty pleasures (which are definitely fun and can make us very happy!), but they aren't absolute necessities, either (like food and shelter, for instance). 

So what am I talking about? Lets take a look...
 
Here are my Top 10 Non-Negotiables:

1. 8 hours of sleep per night. I used to go with a lot less, and still do if I absolutely have to, but getting 8 hours every night has become really important to me. I'm a much better person when I get good sleep--and these days, that's most nights because I've made it a huge priority (plus, sleeping in total darkness has been a GREAT help). 

2. Comfortable shoes. Years ago, after I hurt my back & hip the first time, my Doctor in NYC told me that I should only wear "rubber-soled shoes." I balked at him (and freaked out a little), but now, I see a lot of truth in this. Don't worry, I still wear cute shoes, too, but I do try to wear my Tom's and Inov-8s as much as possible. It's made a big difference. 

3. An apple and a protein bar available at all times. When I'm hungry, it's miserable for everyone involved. I try to avoid it at all costs by always stowing an apple and/or a protein bar in my bag ... 

4. Alone time (preferably with a book). If I get my 30-minutes of reading before bed each night--or just a quick break in the middle of the day--I'm a better person. Although I love being around people, I have to recharge by being alone, and think that this is super important for anyone who works in very social environment. 

5. A comfortable bra. I know, but I just had to say it because it's true! For me, this means wearing a sports bras every day ;) Another reason I love my job! As a side note, I just have to share this amazing story: I was out to dinner with a good friend recently, and she said that her bra was bothering her. She paused for a moment, and then reached under her shirt, unhooked it, took it off, and slid it into her purse. Can you say badass? I just don't think discomfort is worth it, either.

6. Fresh breath. I brush my teeth about 4-6 times per day--definitely before every time that I teach, before and after breakfast, and at night. If my mouth doesn't feel fresh, I'm not at my best. 

7. Ice water. Not warm, not room temperature, not cooled--with ice in it. I feel a lot more energized when I'm drinking this. There's just nothing more refreshing!

8. Being active at least once per day. Getting outside. Moving around. Read: not sitting at a desk all day.

9. Hummus. If I have it at least a couple of times per week, I'm a happy camper. It's been a staple in my diet for years now, and I just can't imagine life without it. 

10. Yoga. Come on, you know that I had to include it here, right?


What makes you function optimally? What are your non-negotiables? Make a list, look at it, and see where you're skimping. You might be able to spot some simple ways to add a little energy, happiness, and/or rejuvenation to your life.

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

Ready for this? I've decided that since I'm always sharing my favorite simple, sensory joys, I should also break things down a bit and share not only my simple joys, but also my *guilty pleasures* (in the words of Merriam-Webster, "something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt").  Because we all have them, right?  You may already know some of mine, as they have definitely been woven into some of my SJOTW posts, but today, I thought I'd make it official. 

So here we go...! What are your guiltiest pleasures?

1. Reality TV. Specifically, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and The Bachelor Pad (basically anything Bachelor-related!). I know it's really bad, and fake, and scripted, but what can I say? I love it.  

2. Hiring a cleaning company. I know it's crazy when you live in a place that's 1000 sq. feet, but it is amazing and TOTALLY worth the $75. What would take us 4-5 hours literally takes them 1 hour. And they do a much better job!! Worth every penny to avoid the fights about how dirty our place is... 

3. BGR Sweet Potato fries--every Thursday night. Yes, it's almost become a tradition. Every Thursday night, after CrossFit, Ben and I go to BGR. We each get our respective burgers (their veggie burger is to die for!), and we split their sweet potato fries with rosemary + parmesan. I could eat them every day and never get sick of them! If you're in the DC area, definitely go there and try them...

4. Taylor Swift. I know that her music is geared towards high schoolers--or at least college kids--but I love it. So catchy and cute, and for some reason, it reminds me of a good rom com (another slightly guilty pleasure!). My love for Taylor kind of reminds me of my old love for Avril Lavigne...

5. Manicures. Pedicures I can justify, "for my job," but manis are a different story. I usually chip them in 1-2 days. My nails are short and I pick at my cuticles when I'm stressed or bored. I paint and do CrossFit and mess them up when I'm just walking around, being my clumsy self and hitting my hands on things as I walk--but still, I love them. And every once in a while, I treat myself to one. Crazy, I know!!

6. Bad rap music and/or bad top 40 music. I know it's embarrassing--I really do--but I just can't stop loving it. I like to blame Ben, the Top 40 King of the World ;)

7. Expensive yoga clothes. I spend a lot of time justifying it, but the truth is, I'm addicted ;) You've heard it already, so I'll save you the long-winded story, but, yeah...

8. MAC Sheertone Blush in "Coygirl." First off, I'm a blush addict. Always have been, always will be, and I blame it on my crazy pale skin. Anyways, ever since I discovered this blush in 2010, I've been a dedicated customer. And no joke, sometimes I put blush on 2-3 times per day, and I've only had to buy this blush twice since then--that's how long it lasts! It's the best. 

9. Ice cream. Enough said, right? I think this is a guilty pleasure for a lot of us. You could also just include "almost all desserts and sweets" here...

10. Brides Magazine. When I had just gotten engaged, and was given my first bridal magazine, I kind of freaked out. I was like, what!? I'm not the bridal magazine type! But, alas, I found out that I am. They really are fun to flip through, and yes, you really can get some great ideas from them. Do their "countdown checklists" freak me out every time I look at them? Yes. But still, a lot of fun!

So there you have it--a glimpse into my "dark" side ;) 

Guilty pleasures are an interesting subject for yogis, since we talk so much about saucha (purity) and brahmacharya (moderation). But in my own studies, I have come to the conclusion that as long as we indulge in our "guilty pleasures" sparingly--in moderation, with awareness, mindfulness, and understanding--that they aren't always a completely bad thing. But, when they begin to get in the way of our journey and/or our quest for our personal truth, or when they become a distraction from what truly important in life, then it's time to reevaluate...

What are your thoughts on this subject? 

Namaste!
Mary Catherine